Write or Right?

I had been fairly confident that I had produced a carefully planned, well-organised and engaging narrative to discuss why I write for assignment one. That was until I began to read the work of others, which forced me to question whether the approach I had taken was even correct and adequately engaging to achieve the purpose of the narrative: to persuade others to write. For example, I had not told a story with an accessible introduction, a middle that built suspense until the climatic end like Anne from York’s narrative about her husband’s eventful walks. Neither had I selected one specific point or one ethical question to mold a descriptive and captivating story behind like ‘why I don’t write any more’. My unconnected and somewhat disjointed events also differed from that of Yaroslava Roy whose narrative gracefully guides us from childhood up to the present day in their identity a writer.

We were given the same task based on the same question yet each of us interpreted the task differently. Perhaps it’s not a difference in interpretation of the question but a difference in how we came to the answer the question based our own individual causes and personal experiences, which are so varied and rich, to give us reason to put pen to paper or fingers to keys. In fact this was part of the beauty of the assignment: to highlight the ability of writing to cast light on the essence of our souls, each lined with our own unique mix of thoughts, experiences and memories.

For all the diversity found within our narratives I am able to draw parallels and pick out common themes between selected assignments upon further analysis.
Aisling Irwin who wrote ‘Why I don’t write’ shares my perspective that writing can be used to promote issues of justice, morality and social equality. In their care it was the plight of the poor in Bangladesh but for many others the injustices that take place outside the borders of our own countries had featured heavily. It is a common theme in my writing. I ended my essay emphasising the power that written word thanks to the knowledge it carries which can be a catalyst for igniting change. I was comforted that others like Aisling Irwin, who have more experience in using word as the tool for change, still see the value of communicating the injustices of inequality to western readers. Aisling describes both intensely and justly how poverty can drown the human spirit in degradation.
I believe we have a duty to commit ourselves to ensure that the world and those in it flourish. We should strive to live our lives as global citizens to be as rich as the colours of a nation’s flag wrapped around the coffin of a soldier killed in combat: drenched in meaning, weighed down by dedication and responsibility.

I also believe that life’s mission is to find our talent and unlock its potential in order to improve the lives of those who have limited or no access to the resources needed to also reach their potential. This is what motivates to me to get out of bed in the morning, this is what drives me to write, and this is what pushes me to better my own writing. I want to be able to persuade others to write with a similar conviction: to strive for difference, to use written words to educate, motivate, inspire, and ultimately to instigate change.

Brandon Pozernick offers the quote by Ben Mitchell in his assignment ‘I write to say what I cannot speak’ and reflects that we express ourselves more completely and concisely in written word than through verbal communication. The themes I discuss in my narrative: my mothers death, the inspiration of Maya Angelou and the betrayal of loved ones are intimate experiences entwined with similarly intimate emotions that I would be incapable of relating to family, friends or strangers in a conversation. I was comforted to know I am not the only one who writes to convey topics that cannot be spoken.

I think it’s also important to mention what I have learnt through this analysis exercise. I have learnt the importance of focusing on one single point in order to develop an argument or theme throughout a narrative. This helps to hold the reader’s attention without distraction. I find the three momentous events I discussed in causing me to write are enthralling but that’s because they hold personal meaning. I mustn’t delude myself that others will feel the same way without the story being skillfully retold. Moving forward I will spend longer carefully considering and selecting one key point to narrate in my rhetorical essay.

Considering skillfully written narratives ‘why I don’t write’ is written exquisitely. We repulse at the image of the enlarged testicles, we squirm in our seats through the power of Aislings’ details and rejoice in the perfectly selected metaphors that transport us to the taxi scene: we sit along side mother and child. Although it adds to further deprecation of my own attempt, also grounds me: I am at the beginning of my journey as a writer, I am in the opening chapter of my own narrative. I have so much to learn. Writers like Aisling set the standard setting the example of how it should be done, keeping us in the frame but sat below in awe, driving us with the desire to be the best that we possibly can.

Upon reflection and now conclusion to this synthesis, my aspiration is that by working through this course I will better equip myself to challenge, influence and motive others, either to write, to take action or to change their behaviour or the behaviour of others for the good of the wider community, be it locally or globally. My hope is that through the sharing and analysis of our collective works we will all understand to a greater extent the perspectives and realities of others around the world. As argued initially, we will never write for the same cause or utilise the same techniques, format or vocabulary because of our unique and individual life experiences, however my hope is that a greater number of people will now harness their talent for more benevolent and meaningful ends.